The Art Curators collaborated on several new teaching projects this year, engaging university and secondary school students with significant works of art from the Murdoch University Art Collection.

Many of these teaching activities focused on the gallery's exhibition, SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER: Contemporary First Nations Art from the Murdoch University Art Collection.

University Art Collection Curators Mark Stewart and Dr Baige Zylstra presented specialised exhibition tours and educational workshops, examining the work of celebrated First Nations artists Tony Albert, Selma Coulthard, Dr Brenda L. Croft, Dr Fiona Foley, Dr Julie Gough, Sandra Hill, Vanessa Inkamala, Kait James, Dianne Jones, Dylan Mooney, Thea Anamara Perkins, Dr Ryan Presley, Brian Robinson, Mervyn Rubuntja, Dr Christian Thompson AO, James Tylor and Keemon Williams.

Discussions encompassed a broad range of issues, exploring the power of truth-telling and activism through art, through to artists’ use of innovative techniques and media to express their unique ideas, perspectives and experiences.

Murdoch University students from Dr Elizabeth Burns-Dans’ unit HIS216 - The Art of Protest: The Music, Performance and Visual Arts of Activism since 1850 from the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, and Carolyn Jones’ unit PHO204 - Visual Literacy from the School of Media and Communication, were among the groups who studied this exhibition as part of their teaching programs this year.

“Being able to take students out of the traditional classroom and immerse them in the creative and intellectually exciting environment of the exhibition was a highlight of my semester. The exhibition’s key works challenged students to consider their own cultural context, biases and attitudes. We are so fortunate at Murdoch to have Mark and Baige to facilitate these kinds of learning experiences for students”, said Dr Elizabeth Burns-Dans.

In addition to working with Murdoch University students, the Curators also embarked on an exciting new teaching collaboration with lecturers from the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences which focuses on secondary school teaching and learning.

As part of this initiative, Mark and Baige presented a series of curatorial workshops on art and activism for year 9 and 11 visual arts students from John Curtin College of the Arts. These sessions concentrated on artworks in the current exhibition, as well as a special curated installation of works by Hoda Afshar, Amos Gebhardt, Dr Angela Stewart, Anne Zahalka and Atong Atem (pictured above). Students were encouraged to engage closely with these original works of art, created by contemporary Australian artists who challenge diverse social, cultural and political issues of our time.

Year 9 student Asha Reid commented that: “Walking through the gallery with Mark and Baige, looking at art about activism, really showed how art isn't just pretty pictures. They helped us see how each piece tells a story or pushes for change. It made it clear that art can actually make a difference in the world.”

These teaching and learning collaborations have been incredibly effective and it’s wonderful to see so many students engaging with the University’s Art Collection. 

Photo: University Art Collection Curators Mark Stewart and Baige Zylstra leading a curatorial workshop for students from John Curtin College of the Arts. Photography by Chloe Bartram.